ANKENY, Iowa-- Des Moines Area Community College is moving to online delivery of its web-blended and face-to-face courses for the rest of the spring 2020 semester. Hands-on, lab-based classes currently are set to resume the week of April 13th. DMACC says if there are any changes, students will be notified.

DMACC is also going with a temporary pass/fail grading option. The spring term will end the week of May 4th, as planned. DMACC has cancelled spring commencement ceremonies.

“Our first priority continues to be protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff members,” said MD Isley, DMACC Vice President of Academic Affairs. “While we greatly miss seeing everyone on campus, we believe continuing online instruction for the final weeks of the spring semester is the right decision.”

The Pass/Fail grading option is temporary and applies only to the spring courses.

“We know the impact of COVID-19 has created some challenges for our students this semester,” Isley said. “In recognition of those challenges, the DMACC Leadership Council wanted to relieve some of the pressure students might feel to maintain a certain grade point average (GPA).”

DMACC will include a designation on all student transcripts indicating the extraordinary circumstances encountered during the spring 2020 term, and students will have the option to accept an assigned letter grade for their courses OR to submit a request for pass/fail (P/F) grading for all spring classes in session after March 13. Students will need to make and submit their decision to the DMACC Registrar between May 14 and May 20.

Of note, DMACC has also extended the drop-date deadline to Wed., April 15, for all standard, 16-week courses scheduled to meet from January-May.

Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor, navigator or program chair about these grading choices, as well the extended course drop-date deadline, to consider whether they are good options for their coursework this semester.

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